The Zimbabwe Musicians Union (ZIMU) has unveiled the names of provincial committee members in four
provinces as part of the organisation’s efforts to promote, defend and look out for the welfare of its members.
The members were chosen through a voting process following workshops held in Bulawayo (Bulawayo
Province), Gweru (Midlands Province), Mutare (Manicaland) and Masvingo (Masvingo Province) since the
beginning of the year. The committee members were chosen with support from local musicians in each
province and help from ZIMU management including its president Edith Katiji and women’s desk chairperson
Chioneso Rutsito.
“The setting up of provincial committees allows for decentralised governance of local musical activities and
will benefit our members in the provinces more,” Katiji said. “The committees will determine how they run to
address the challenges faced by our members in those communities. We are excited to see this roll out and our
next step will be to focus on capacitating our committees so they can deliver on their duties well. We are in
exciting times at ZIMU.”
In addition, other members were selected in Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland South provinces, where
ZIMU also held workshops. Due to logistical challenges among the appointed members, positions were not yet
filled. There will be an additional workshop in Chitungwiza on a yet-to-be-announced date as part of the 2023
calendar. Further workshops will be held in the remaining provinces next year, with dates to be announced
soon.
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe communication and marketing manager Rodney Ruwende said: “The
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) was pleased to assist the Zimbabwe Musicians Union (ZIMU), a
registered Arts Organization, in the rollout of its project targeting grassroots practitioners in the country’s
provinces. The programme dovetails with the NACZ thrust of fostering professionalisation, digitisation and
industrialization of the Cultural and Creative Sector (CCS) in Zimbabwe.”
In response to their appointments, one of the newly appointed members in the Midlands province secretary,
Khulekani Moyo said: “I am very excited with the existence of ZIMU in the Midlands Chapter. At least we
now have a voice that will stand for the artists. Artists had for long suffered from stigmatisation and isolation.
At so many times they have been oppressed because of poor protection and vulnerability in the industry. It is
time now that ZIMU will handle artists’ warfare We thank our president ‘mhamha bass’ for reviving the union
in the province and in the entire country at large. Already we have started to be engaged in mass artist
recruitment as our President told us to do.”
The provincial committee members are:
Bulawayo
Beke Thorne Sibanda – Chairperson
Oscar Greens – Vice Chairperson
Nkosiphile Sibanda – Secretary
Sibonginkosi Sibanda – Treasurer
Midlands
Dr Claudio Chipendo – Chairperson
Joseph Tawanda Nhara – Vice Chairman
Khulekani F Moyo – Secretary
Adam Jeketera – Treasurer
Ngqabutho Mlilo – Coordinator
Lillian Nhara – Artist Welfare
Michael Sakala – Committee Member
Praise Chenyedzai – Committee Member
Masvingo
Dr Phainos Matura – Chairperson
Priscilla Chiputu – Vice Chairperson
Ratidzo Wekare – Secretary
Praise Zinhuku – Treasurer
Tafara Pande – Coordinator
Taonga Mutenanhene – Welfare officer
Reuben Matutu – Committee Member
Henry Manirudzi – Committee Member
Norman Hungwe – Committee Member
Manicaland
Kudakwashe Muchinguri – Chairperson
Lionel Muparutsa – Vice Chairperson
Masiiwa Mbutsa – Secretary
Veronica Matondora – Treasurer
Seymour Gijimani – Committee Member
Melania Fidze – Committee Member
Tonderai Kashiri – Committee Coordinator
Tadiwanashe Sigodho – Committee Member
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